Fire Chief debunks allegations of Recruits’ violation, humiliation…

By Stanford Conway
Editor-in-Chief, SKNVibes.com

Chief Fire Officer Hester Rawlins

Rawlins was at the time responding to allegations made by an individual, who wrote a letter of complaint [seemingly] on behalf of the recruits and some members of the Fire and Rescue Services.

The author of the correspondence, which was sent to SKNVibes, states that members of the institution are currently going through a difficult phrase in the history of its existence.

“The Department is currently having a Basic Recruit Course, where several young officers are training. The recruits are dishonoured, desecrated, violated and humiliated on a daily basis by quite a few of the older officers.

“Complaints are being made to the Chief Fire Officer, but results to these complaints are yet to be addressed. The recruits and a few of other officers are being told that they will be transferred to Nevis because they are pictured as spies and are speaking out for their rights. As a result, the other recruits are afraid to speak out for their constitutional rights. When they do, they are exempted from liberty and visitation and put on punishment for the duration of the course,” the correspondence reads.

It also states that “the Chief Officer has no respect, admiration or self-esteem. The words use on a daily basis and the statements being passed at the recruits are very abusive and disrespectful”.

The author claims that the recruits and officers are fed up with the Fire Chief’s attitude, conduct and dictatorship and they are seeking a way to vent their frustration and dissatisfaction at the direction in which the institution is heading under his management.

Additionally, it reads, “These are only a few of what is happening at present. The officers need to be treated as assets and need to be motivated in a way which they can be comfortable and work in a more pleasant environment.”

When contacted, the Fire Chief said, “If this document is intended to jeopardise or tarnish Hester Rawlins or any member of my Department, I will not take it lightly. I am a no-nonsense person and I will not compromise the discipline of any organisation that I am a part of for any person.”  ~~Adz:Right~~

Rawlins refuted the allegations and noted that he was trained in intelligence gathering, and if the recruits were violated or humiliated he would have known about it. He also stated that he is close to the recruits and none of them had ever lodged complaints to him.

Rawlins explained that the Basic Recruit Training Programme commenced on July 21, 2008 with 12 males and one female, and a 14th student joined the course on the following day.

“To date, all the students are still on training, which has been going extremely well so far. As a former instructor, I decided to put my all into it and I am with the students from Monday to Friday from as early as 5:00 a.m. when they awake for fatigues,” he said.

Rawlins explained that his reason for being with the recruits from that early hour is because the Fire and Rescue Services is short on manpower and he lives within proximity of the institution.

He declared that there are only two Physical Training Instructors on the course and they are also young; so, he, being an experienced instructor, participates in the physical training sessions to “ensure that the students do not suffer unnecessary punishment or injury”.

The Fire Chief also declared that every week the recruits have to complete a physical training test and a particular individual, who was below the required standard had recently improved by a record two-minute on his two-mile assessment run.

“This,” he added, “is a clear indication of the devotion, dedication and commitment of the trainers that we have, and I am pleased to say as Chief of the Department that I am very happy at the performance of all my instructors.”

“I am aware, and every day I say to my officers there are insubordination and all kind of offences, but there is also an offence called ‘Offence Conduct’ and there is always a balance; and I always speak to them about natural justice. So, that is why there is no evidence in the allegations made against my officers…nothing like this happened and, to date, no recruit has ever reported against an Instructor to me,” he emphasised.

Rawlins is of the view that indiscipline has crept into the Federation’s Police Force and he would not allow the same to happen in his Department.

“I am aware of the fact that indiscipline has lowered the respect, moral and integrity of the Police Force and, so, therefore, if these allegations are an attempt to lower the standard of discipline that I have put into this training programme, it will fail and fail miserably because I am aware that anytime you compromise discipline, it will result in your organisation being in jeopardy,” he said.

He maintained that whenever a recruit or any of his officers has to be disciplined it would be done, but without prejudice and only for the particular offence.

“If punishment has to be awarded for an offence, it will be awarded. And like I said before, I am aware of fairness and natural justice. I shall forever remain committed to my ideals and principles and will speak strongly for my beliefs, whether it is to the press, the Opposition or my Honourable Prime Minister.”

Fire Chief Rawlins also emphasised that he would not compromise his Basic Recruit Training Programme and, therefore, “you must have restrictions if you want your students to perform well. This is not a refresher course; it is a Basic Recruit Course”.